Dehydrating apparatus



, Apt 3, 1923. fl,45@,!4

S. M. DICK DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1.2, 1919 5 sheets-sheafv 1 I; El;

Apr. 3, 1923.

S.IW.IJH:K

DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12,

5 sheets-sheet 2 Apr. 3, 1. 923. 1l ,4l5@,84 s. M. plcK DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12 1919 5 sheets-sheet 5 www Apr. 3, 1923.

B,415@,M s. M. DICK DEHYDRAT I NG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12, 1919 5 sheets-sheet 5 @Petented Apr. 3, W23.

NE STES insists.

DEHYD'RATING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 12, 1919.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MEDARY DICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dehydrat-ing Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en- 1 able others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to dehydrating apparatus and more particularly to those in which liquids carrying solids in suspension,

are atomized in a cell and subjected to currents of air while in atomized condition, thereby removing the moisture and freeing the solids.

One object of my invention is to provide a dehydrating apparatus which will quickly and effectively carry off the required amount of moisture, and one which may be used to great advantage in the manufacture of milk powder, the artificial butter disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 1558997, or the preparation of other products.

A further object is to devise a novel arrangement of air inlets for the dehydrating cell, whereby to produce the required currents of air in a. greater portion thereof, while leaving the air at the lower end of said cell in a calm state, thus permitting the dehydrated solids to settle.

A still further object is to preventthe 5 spray of liquid from reachin and drying on the side wall of the cell, this end being attained by directing sheets of air vertically along said wall.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein after described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a dehydrating apparatus employing two cells designed primarily for the manufacture of milk powder and artificial butter, although usable for other purposes.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the lbft above the dehydrating cells.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the place indicated by line 33 of Fig. 1, showing Serial N0. 337,581.

more clearly the arrangement of air inlets and outlets.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the collecting means for the hydrated solids.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections on the planes designated by the lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged inner side elevation of one of the air supply passages and two of its nozzles.

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections on the planes 9-9 and 1010 of Fig. 8.

In carrying out my invention, I provide one or more vertical dehydrating cells, install means in the upper end of each cell for spraying liquid in the same, and provide a novel arrangemontof air inlets for producing currents of air in the cell, in such manner as to remove any required quantity of moisture. In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown two dehydrating cells 1 and 2, the former being designed for producing one step in the manufacture of powdered milk, artificial butter or the like, while the other cell completes the operation. Both of'these cells are of approximately the same construction and although I have illustrated two such cells in the present embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that any adequate number may be used. The two cells are preferably embodied in a single building as shown and their walls may be constructed of any preferred material although cement or the like is preferred. Furthermore, the cross sectional shape of the cells in question may vary, but in most instances this shape is rectangular except where changed to octagonal by certain passages extending across the corners, as hereinafter described. The building in which the cells are contained preferably includes a loft 3 above such cells and a furnace room 4 below said cells, or otherwise suitably located, and a suitable stair-case or the like 5 may lead to said loft.

In the upper ends of the cells 1 and 2, I provide liquid spraying means such as centrifugal atomizers 6. and the feeding and driving means 7 and 7 respectively of such atom ers may well be located in the loft 3-.

4 The atomizers' are by preference located centrally to discharge a spray of liquid outwardly toward the vertica ide walls of the cells, and such spray is acted on by currents of air (preferably hot) discharged into said cells from series of vertically spaced nozzles or the like, located as desired. I have shown each series as consisting of four nozzles 8, 9, 10 and 11, but any adequate or preferred number could be used.

along the side walls of the cells, but they may discharge downwardly when preferred an in some cases are so constructed; and

the nozzle 9 discharges in a direction which is intermediate to the dischar e of the aforesaid nozzles 8, 10 and 11. This arrangement is preferablyfollowed, but others could be used if desired, but in practically all instances I intend that the nozzles of each series shall vary their angle with respect to the wall of the cell, from vertical at the lower -end of the series to approximately horizontal at the upper end thereof. By this arrangement, the air from the horizontally discharging nozzles meets the spray from the atomizer or the like 6, the currents of air from the vertical nozzles sweep along the side wall of the cell and prevent the spray from depositing and drying thereon, and these air currents mingling with those from the other nozzles, provide the necessary cyclonic action to most effectively evaporate the required amount of moisture from the atomized liquid.

The nozzles 8. 9, 10, and 11 may be of any adequate shape, but I prefer in most instances to construct them of rather flat form, elongated horizontally and having comparatively little width. Each nozzle is supplied with diffusing blades to spread the air in fan shaped currents as may be desired. By so doing, the currents of air are forced into the cell in approximately the form of sheets, and it has been found that currents of this form produce better results than others which might be used. Furthermore, although not absolutely essential in all cases, I intend in most instances to decrease the strength of the air currents toward the lower end of each series of nozzles, and although this end might be attained in different ways, I prefer that the cross sectional sizes of the nozzles shall decrease from the upper end of the series toward the lower end thereof as shown.

The decreasing of the air currents toward the lower end of the cell is rather important, as this permits the air in the lower end of the cell to remain calm. It will thus be seen that settling of the dehydrated product in the lower end of the cell is not interefered with.

For supplying the several nozzles with I air under pressure, any suitable means may be employed and for illustrative purposes I have shown a furnace 12 in which the air is heated and from which it is driven by any preferred means (not shown) through suitably located vertical pipes 18 to said nozzles. These pipes are illustrated as ex tending upwardly in vertical passages 14 formed in any desired wall of the cells, but in some instances said pipes might well lead only to the lower ends of the passages, in which instance the latter would carry the hot air to the nozzles. The air may be carried from the cells by any adequate and suitably located means, but I preferably form air exhaust passages 15 by passing partitions 16 across the corners thereof as shown for instance in Figs. 2 and 3. These passages extend through the loft 3 and may well be provided with doors 17 by means of which their interiors are accessible from said loft, this being desirable in order that suitable screens 18 extending across the exhaust passages may be removed and cleaned whenever required. These screens prevent any possibility of fine particles of the dehydrated product being carried off with the exhaust air. The upper ends of the passages 15 may well be equipped with suitable ventilators 19 which will permit the escape of air without allowing rain and the like to enter. In some instances, the air inlet passages may well occupy the corners of the cells, and the outlet passages may then be located in any adequate manner.

The cell 1 is intended primarily to reduce skimmed sweet milk to a paste-like consistency and this cell may well be provided with a hoppenlike bottom 20 for collecting this mass and discharging it into a suitable receptacle which is indicated by the dotted lines 21 of Fig. 1. The skimmed milk de hydrated'to the proper consistency is mixed with sweet cream and this mixture is treated in the cell 2 to produce a product of any desired moisture content. In the present showing. it is intended that cell 2 shall produce a powder, and although any adequate means could be provided for collecting this powderyl prefer to form the bottom of the cell by a double hopper 22 having a pair of depending outlet pipes 23, which pipes may well be rectangular in horizontal section. The powder is collected in the hoppers and discharged through the pipes 23 and these pipes may be provided with an arrangement of collecting pans such as detailed in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it being understood that this arrangement of pans would operate equally well upon one discharge pipe.

In the figures above mentioned I have shown one of the pipes 23 provided in its opposite sides with openings 24, and one or more pairs of pans 25 are insertable through said openings to collect the dehydrated material. The pans 25 of each air are mounted in some adequate manner lbr movement in unison, whereby the extraction of one an for emptying will simultaneously positlon the other pan across the pipe for collecting the discharged material. The pans might be mounted in numerous ways for permitting this operation, but I have illustrated each pair of pans carried. by a sliding frame 26.

When the cell 2 is used for producing a product other than a powder, it may be necessary tochange the form of its outlet hopper. I therefore prefer to detachably mount this hopper by hanger rods or the like 27, thereby allowing it to be easily removed whenever a hopper of different form should be substituted.

The operation of both cells is the same, except that the second cell produces a greater drying effect. In both instances, the liquid or the like to be dehydrated is sprayed outwardly by the means 6 and such spray is immediately-subjected to the action of the relatively strong currents of air discharged from the uppermost nozzles 8. Evaporation thus starts immediately and as the descending spray reaches the currents of air set up by the other nozzles, it is carried around in more or less of a cyclonic manner and by the time the lower end of the cell has been reached, the required dehydrating effect has been produced. The accumulation of any deposits on the side wall of the cell is prevented by the vertical currents of air from the lower nozzles and since the strength of the air currents decreases toward the lower end of the cell, the air below the lower ends of the'exhaust passages 15 is sufficiently calm to allow proper settling of the dehydrated material. Any fine particles which might escape with the exhaust air are caught b the screens 18 and the latter may be c eaned from time to time as necessary.

In Figs. 8, 9 and- 10 I have'illustrated one arrangement of air diffusing blades which may be employed. In the nozzle 8, at a point spaced inwardly from] its delivery end, a curved plate 8 is shown extending horizontally across said nozzle while in advance of this plate, vertical plates 8 are provided. All of these plates are provided at their ends with trunnions 8 passing through the sides of the nozzle, and nuts 8 are shown threaded on said trunnions for clamping the plates or blades in adjusted position. In the nozzle 9, plates 9 and 9 similar to the plates 8 and 8 are shown. By properly adjusting the several plates or blades, the currents of air discharged from the n zzles may be directed.

upwardly or downwardly to any suitable degree and may also be scattered in fanlike fashion to produce best results.

In constructing my invention, I preferably make use of the features herein disclosed, but numerous changes in the form of the invention may well be made within the scope of the appended claims, and needless to say heat insulating material may be used to conserve heat wherever required, and the walls of the hot air exhaust passages may be sufficiently thin to allow cooling of the exhaust air as it passes therethrough. It is thus insured that any of the product which might lodge upon the screens 18, will not be scorched or otherwise injured by heat.

- I claim:

1. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upperend of said cell, means at the vertical side walls of said cell for directing vertical currents of air along the inner sides of said walls to preventthe sprayed liquid from accumulating thereon, outlet means for the moisture laden air located between the upper and lower ends of the cell, and outlet means for the dehydrated product below said air outlet means and said current directing means.

2. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of said cell. means at the vertical side walls of'said cell for directing vertical currents of air along the inner sides of said walls to prevent the sprayed liquid from accumulating thereon, means for directing other currents of airacross said cell, outlet means for the moisture laden air located between the upper and lowerends of the cell, and outlet means for the dehydrated product belo {said air outlet means and said current directing means; p 3. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid radially outward across the upperend of said cell, means at the side wall of-said cell for supplying inwardly directed currents of air in approximately the plane of said liquid spraying means, means for directing vertical currents upwardly along the inner side of said wall to prevent the sprayed liquid from accumulating thereon, outlet means for the moisture laden air between the ends of said cell, and outlet means for the dehydrated product below said air outlet means.

4. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of said cell, vertically disposed fiat nozzles at the side wall of said cell for supplying vertical sheets of air along and substantially parallel with said wall, means forsupplying air to said nozzles, outlet means forthe moisture laden air between the upper and lower ends of the cell, and outlet means .for the dehydrated product below said air outlet means and said nozzles.

"5. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means at the center of said cell and spaced from the wall thereof for spraying liquid radially outward across the upper edge portion of said cell, flat horizontally widened nozzles spaced around the side wall of said cell and directed horizontally inward in substantially the plane of said liquid spraying means to supply air currents for intercepting the sprayed liquid and preventing it from striking said wall, means for supplying air above atmospheric pressure to said nozzles, and outlet means for the moisture laden air and for the dehydrated product.

6. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means at the center of said cell and spaced from the wall thereof for spraying liquid radially outward across the upper end portion of said cell, flat horizontally widened nozzles spaced around the side wall of said cell and directed horizontally inward in sub stantially the plane of the liquid spraying means to supply air currents for intercepting the sprayed liquid and preventing it from striking said wail, additional and upwardly directed flat nozzles at the wall of said cell below said first named nozzles, means for supplying air above atmospheric pressure to all of said nozzles, outlet means for the moisture laden air between the upper and lower ends of the cell, and outlet means for the dehydrated product below said air inlet means and said upwardly directed nozzles.

7 In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of said cell, means for supplying currents of air to said cell at different elevations, with the currents decreasing in strength toward the lower end of the cell, air outlet means from the lower portion only of said cell, and an outlet forthe dehydrated product, disposed below said air outlet means and said current supplying means.

8. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of said cell, a series of vertically spaced air supply nozzles at theside wall of said. cell, the direction of discharge of said nozzles varying from horizontal at the top of the series to vertical at the bottom thereof, means for supplying air to said nozzles, outlet means for the moisture laden air between the ends of the cell, and outlet means for the dehydrated product below the air outlet means and said nozzles.

9. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of said cell, a series of vertically spaced air supply nozzles at the side wall of said cell, the direction of discharge of said nozzles varying from horizontal at the top of the series to vertical at the bottom thereof, said nozzles also decreasing in crosssetional size toward the lower end of said series, air outlet means from said cell below said nozzles, and outlet means for the dehydrated product below said air outlet means and said nozzles.

10. A structure as specified in claim 9, certain of said nozzles having air diffusing blades for scattering the air in fan-like fashion. e

11. In a dehydrating apparatus, a vertical cell, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of said cell, an air supply nozzle at the side of said cell, a horizontal pivotally mounted air diffusing plate in said nozzle, vertical air difl'using plate-s between said horizontal plate and the delivery end of said nozzle, and means for holding all of said plates in adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

I SAMUEL M. DICK. 

